Vacuolar sterol β-glucosidase EGCrP2/Sgl1 deficiency in Cryptococcus neoformans: Dysfunctional autophagy and Mincle-dependent immune activation as targets of novel antifungal strategies.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is a fungal pathogen responsible for cryptococcal meningitis, which accounts for 15% of AIDS-related deaths. Recent studies have shown that the absence of sterol β-glucosidase (EGCrP2, also known as Sgl1) in Cn significantly attenuates its virulence in a mouse infection model. However, the mechanisms underlying this virulence attenuation remain unclear. In this study, we observed a significant increase in dead cells after 3 days of culture of SGL1-deficient Cn (sgl1Δ, KO) at 37°C, compared with wild-type (WT) and SGL1-reconstituted Cn (sgl1Δ::SGL1, RE). qPCR analysis of WT, KO, and RE strains indicated that autophagy-related genes (ATGs) were significantly downregulated in KO strain. Atg8-dependent GFP translocation to the vacuole was significantly delayed in K

SUBMITTER: Watanabe T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12061408 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature